Empress Dowager Cixi's Youth Secret: The 'White Liquid' Revealed on 'Celebrity's Secret'

KBS 2TV's 'Celebrity's Secret' will unveil the identity of the 'white liquid' consumed by Empress Dowager Cixi, a formidable figure in late Qing Dynasty China, to maintain her youth.

The broadcast on the 23rd will delve into the immense power and greed of Empress Dowager Cixi, often labeled one of China's 'top three evil women.' She lavishly rebuilt the Summer Palace, an expansive complex rivaling Yeouido Island in size, featuring artificial lakes and mountains. Rising from the sixth rank of concubines, 'Imperial Concubine,' she ascended to the position of Empress Dowager, wielding power even greater than the Emperor's.

As the biological mother of Emperor Tongzhi, who succeeded his father after the Emperor's death during the Opium Wars between Britain and China, she gained regency power at the age of nine. However, Emperor Tongzhi also died of illness at 19. Subsequently, she enthroned her four-year-old nephew, Emperor Guangxu, and after his death, the even younger two-year-old Puyi, who became the last emperor of the Qing Dynasty. Puyi's story was even adapted into a Hollywood film. Empress Dowager Cixi's influence extended beyond that of an emperor, spanning across three imperial reigns.

It is known that she would taste over 120 luxurious dishes at each meal and then switch to the next plate, prompting comedian Jang Do-yeon to exclaim with a laugh, 'She had no table manners at all.' Professor Jo Yeong-heon from Korea University's History Education department explained, 'She tried to hide what her favorite foods were. If people knew what she liked, they could put something in it.' Lee Chan-won reacted with shock, stating, 'She must have really not wanted to die...' Amidst speculation about ingredients like Goryeo ginseng, guest Moon Jeong-hee heightened the curiosity by hinting, 'The clue is a white liquid.' The true identity of the 'white liquid' that the ultimate power of the Qing Dynasty drank to preserve her youth will be revealed in the broadcast.

The first Korean medical storytelling entertainment show, 'Celebrity's Secret,' which explores the secret lives, birth, aging, and death of historical celebrities, will air its Empress Dowager Cixi episode at 8:30 PM on KBS 2TV and will also be available on Wavve.

Empress Dowager Cixi ruled China for decades, significantly influencing its late imperial period. She was known for her intelligence, political acumen, and extravagant lifestyle. Her decisions often prioritized maintaining her own power and the Qing Dynasty's prestige, even amidst internal turmoil and external pressures from foreign powers.